Kent Chocolatier to close both locations in October

KATHRYN BOUGHTON

Published
12:00 am EDT, Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Life will be a little less sweet in Kent after this fall. Just as the days dim and a chill sets in, the opportunity to chase it away with a steaming cup of Belgian coffee will disappear. After more than 12 years in business in their charming little yellow carriage house shop, Pierre and Susan Gilissen have announced that they are closing Belgique Chocolatier, probably in late October.

The couple will also close their second location in New Canaan.

"We have accomplished everything we wanted to do," said Mr. Gilissen. "When we first opened in Kent in the year 2000, some people were actually betting money that our business would fail, but it has done better than anybody ever imagined."

Belgique has become a destination for customers all over the area and beyond.

In addition, Belgique has provided its handmade chocolates for events with such notables as President George W. Bush, England's Queen Elizabeth II, and King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium. Its clientele includes actors, fashion designers and politicians.

Closing their operation will not mean that the Gilissens are stepping out of the limelight, however. Mr. Gilissen has accepted a job at the British ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C., as residence manager and comptroller. A large part of that role includes supervising about 18 staff members, including chefs, gardeners, butlers and housekeepers, to ensure the residence is maintained and operating at the highest possible standard for the ambassador, his family, and the some 15,000 guests who visit each year.

Mr. Gilissen, no stranger to Washington, D.C., worked at embassies there for 10 years before opening Belgique--first as sous chef for the British ambassador's residence, and later as executive chef and manager at the Dutch ambassador's residence. While in Washington, he cooked for such celebrities as Queen Elizabeth and the ill-fated Princess Diana, among many others.

It was their desire to open a business that led the Gilissens to Northwest Connecticut, and as successful as Belgique has proven to be, Mrs. Gilissen said the new job opportunity in the nation's Capitol was too good to dismiss.

"Pierre heard about the job and applied for it," said Mrs. Gilissen. "He went through a lengthy interview process and was offered the job. We thought it was too good to pass up. He always wanted to own his own business, but we have accomplished everything we wanted to in the past 12 years."

While his new position will be demanding--he is already on site in Washington--Mrs. Gilissen said it is a different job than working in embassy kitchens. "This is a larger resident staff," she said, "and he is in charge of finances. It pulls together all of his experiences and makes greater uses of his skills. He has more responsibility than before."

Until the Connecticut operations are closed, Mr. Gilissen's life is complicated by making weekly trips to the Northwest Corner to produce his trademark chocolates. "It's kind of crazy for him," said Mrs. Gilissen.

She said the couple considered keeping the Belgique locations open through the holidays, their busiest time of year, but thought it would be too stressful. Instead, they opted to close after the leaf-peeping season.

They plan to sell both the Kent and New Canaan locations. In Kent, the site consists of a large Victorian building and its associated carriage house, which is the site of the retail shop.

"We would welcome talking with anyone who might be interested in the businesses, as well," she said. "It would be a great opportunity for someone because there will be a void in both towns.

Mrs. Gilissen will oversee the sale of equipment and property. She said she will be unable to make any decisions about her own future employment until then. But that snippet of uncertainty does not dampen her enthusiasm.

"We are looking forward to it," she said. "We still have friends in D.C. from when we lived there before. It will be nice to see them more."

Customers who have balances on their gift cards are encouraged to redeem them as soon as possible.